Combination arch and forepart reenforcement for shoes



March 27, 1934. w LER 1,952,687

COMBINATION ARCH AND FOREPART REENFORCEMENT FGR SHOES Filed Oct. 10. 1931 H V INVENTOR. j BY M A TTORA IEYS.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 7 COMBINATION ARCH AND FOREPART REENFORCEMENT FOR SHOES Luke F. Sawmiller, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to James A. Banister Co. Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 10, 1931, Serial No. 568,072

2 Claims. (01. 36-85) This invention relates in general to shoes, and more particularly to a novel and improved construction for the soles of shoes.

It is well known that during wear the forepart I of a shoe tends to bend upwardly due to the repeated flexing of the shoe while the person wearing it is walking, so that the shoe in time becomes distorted or deformed from its normal lasted shape. This deformation of the shoe tends to produce discomfort to the wearer because the foot normally rests flat on a horizontal surface and the forepart of the foot of the wearer must overcome this tendency of upward turning of the forepart of the shoe against the resistance of the springiness of the leather. In other words, when the foot is at rest after the shoe has been deformed the forepart of the shoe has a tendency to turn the toes of the foot upwardly out of its normal position. Also the arch portion of the shoe is often deformed, during wear of the shoe, which results in discomfort to the wearer as well as unattractive appearance of the shoe. Furthermore, stiff steel shank supports are embodied in most shoes to reinforce the arch portions of the soles, and these supports are relatively unyielding and often result in discomfort to the wearer.

One object of my invention is to provide a sole construction for shoes embodying novel and improved means for normally influencing or hold- 80' ing the forepart of the shoe in its normal position, so as to provide a maximum comfort to the wearer and to preserve the attractiveness of the shoe.

Another object is to provide in combination with such means, means for reenforcing the arch portion of the shoe to restrain deformation thereof and to ensure comfort of the wearer.

Further objects are to provide in a shoe sole a novel and improved spring device so shaped and of such strength as to normally influence and hold the forepart of the shoe in its normal shape and reenforce the arch portion of the shoe against distortion; to provide such a spring device in the form of an approximately U-shaped loop of spring wire permanently arranged within the sole of the shoe and extending from the toe-portion thereof through the arch portion and into the heel adjacent the outer edges of the sole of the shoe; to provide such a spring device within the channel of the outer portion of the inner sole that is normally provided for stitching; to provide such a spring reenforcement which shall supplant or take the place of the usual steel shank support which extends longitudinally of the sole from the heel through the arch portion;

and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown it in the accompanying drawing in connection with a well known type of shoe, although it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other shoe constructions without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding and like parts are. designated throughout the several views by the same reference characters,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of the shoe sole embodying my invention, with portions broken away for clearness in illustration.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the sole, on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the sole of a shoe with the outer sole removed.

Figure 4 is a similar view with portions of the inner sole, lining, upper and welt shown in section, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional perspective view through one side of a shoe embodying my invention.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the shoe comprises an inner sole 1 of known construction that has the usual undercut channel or groove 2 for stitching. To the edge ofthe inner sole is secured by stitching 3, a lining 4, upper portion 5 and welt 6. At the toe-portion of the shoe the usual box 7 is provided. An outer sole 8 is stitched to the welt 6 in known manner as indicated at 9 and has attached thereto the usual heel 10. Preferably a filler 11 of known construction is interposed between the outer sole and the inner sole.

The reenforcing device embodying my invention is shown as arranged between the inner sole 1 and outer sole 8, and as comprising a substantially U-shaped or looped piece of round spring wire 12 shaped generally to conform to the contour of the sole of the shoe. This reenforcing device will of course in all cases correspond to the particular last of the shoe with which it is to be used. The wire 12 may be conveniently placed in the channel or groove 2 of the inner sole, and has its end portion flattened at 13 and secured to the heel portion of the sole as by nails 14. Preferably the wire extends throughout the length of the forepart of the shoe and through the arch portion 15 to the heel portion, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, and is held inposition by the channel of the inner sole, the nails 14 and the filler 11 which is applied over the outer surface of the inner sole, as well as by the outer sole.

The reenforcing device 12 is so shaped and of such strength as to normally influence the forepart of the shoe into its normal shape, that is, the shape corresponding to the last upon which the shoe was made, and of course, the strength of the spring will vary with soles of different thickness and construction. The arch portion of the reenforcing device is of such shape and strength to prevent deformation of the arch portion of the shoe and to provide a stable but yieldable support for the arch of the foot upon which the shoe is worn.

The operation of the device will be understood from the foregoing. After the forepart of the shoe has been bent or flexed, as in taking a step, and the pressure has been released, the spring 12 tends to straighten the forepart of the shoe or return it to its normal lasted shape. This tends to-comfort, since the toes of the foot are permitted to straighten and in fact influenced into their normal positions, by the action of the spring device on the forepart of the shoe, and the toes are in effect exercised by the shoe. The arch portion of the spring efiectually supports the arch of the foot and restrains tendency or" the arch portion of the shoe to throw out or" its normal shape. Also, the reenforcing device has the function of the ordinary shoe tree tending to return and hold the shoe in its normal shape after it has been removed from the foot.

It will be observed that the spring device is relatively small and highly flexible so as not to materially interfere with the desired flexibility of the sole of the shoe. Furthermore, where such a device is utilized, the usual steel shank reenforcement provided through the arch portion of a shoe may be omitted, the arch portion of the spring supplanting such a shank support, and substantially the same strength and at the same time as much flexibility will be provided by my reenforcing device as by the common steel shank support which is usually in the form of a plate.

As hereinbefore indicated, the reenforcing device may be built into the sole of the shoe in many different ways and used in connection with many different types of shoes, and accordingly I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself in the construction and use of the invention except as required by the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A shoe comprising an upper, an inner sole having an undercut channel adjacent its edges for stitching, and a spring device comprising a loop of round spring wire arranged in said channel and extending substantially throughout the length of the forepart of said sole, said spring device being of a size and strength to normally influence and hold said forepart in its normal lasted shape, and an outer sole secured to said inner sole and overlying said channel and spring device.

2. The shoe set forth in claim 1 wherein said loop of spring wire is U-shaped and extends also throughout the arch portion of the Wall adjacent the edges thereof and has its ends secured to the heel part of the inner sole.

LUKE F. SAWMILLER. 

